Elections 2016

Candidate Platforms - Election 2016

President Elect (2016-2017)

Cheryl Gregorio

Veteran’s of the AAPA President Elect Platform 2016:

Caucus members: Allow me to introduce myself. I am Cheryl Gregorio, PA-C, USAF Retired. I was an AF PA for over 30 years. In those years I held many leadership positions, both in the service and out. Most recently, I was the President-elect and President of my local Rotary Club and have been honored to be on the Board of Directors of the Veteran’s Caucus. Now I would like to take a larger leadership role as President-Elect of the Veteran’s Caucus.

As the advisor to the AAPA on veteran’s issues, the Caucus has a unique opportunity to assist in shaping changes that benefit all PAs, but especially our Veteran’s who have given so much to our country and our profession. As a Caucus we have had many successes, from Scholarships to veterans studying to become PAs, assisting with short term needs, outstanding CME in our “Topics in the Tropics,” and being the voice for Veterans issues to the AAPA. The question becomes how do we grow these programs, move forward? We must become relevant again. We need to honor the history and beginnings of our profession, but also appeal to those just entering the profession. I have great hope in the young PAs, But we need to show them that participation in the profession also has responsibilities. Bringing new members, new ideas, great energy, and commitment comes from the top down. As your President elect, I expect to set the example.

Treasurer (2016-2020)

I am seeking the position of Veterans Caucus Treasurer with the term beginning in July 2016. As you know, I am currently an elected “Delegate at Large” with my term expiring in 2017. With your endorsement, I would like to “shift gears” into the Treasurer’s role to assume a more pivotal role in the Caucus. I would resign my Delegate role should I be elected which will allow for the election of a new Delegate at Large from our wonderful slate of candidates.

As most of you know, our Caucus will assume the full operational control of the “Topics in the Tropics CME Conference” after Geisinger completes this symposium in December 2016 in Cabo San Lucas. Assuming the role of Treasurer will allow me to play an important executive role in this important transition for the Caucus. With the term of 4 years, the Treasurer will play a critical role in financial management of this fundraiser which sustains our Caucus missions. I am now retired from the USPHS but work as a consultant part time for the Veterans Administration, so I have the time resources to devote to this endeavor.

As you may also know, as a Life Member, I have many years of service to the Veterans Caucus with two previous terms as your President. I have served in numerous leadership roles in our profession at the state and national levels and retired from the service as a Flag Officer/Senior Executive Service member. I have extensive experience in budget formulation, financial management and fiscal reconciliation and managed federal budgets with accuracy, transparency, and accountability. During the past year, I have worked with Caucus leaders to formulate and implement a budget which will allow our organization to have greater visibility over all of our resources. As we take on the full weight of responsibility for hosting our annual CME conference, I believe that we will need a steady “watch at the helm” to ensure our organization remains a fiscally sound institution, thus allowing us to further our missions of scholarship deployment, promoting veterans’ health issues within the PA profession and developing ways to support our uniformed PAs as they transition to the private sector workforce.

Please give me your vote as the next Veterans Caucus Treasurer; I will devote the time resources necessary as well as my extensive experience in meeting planning, organizational development and fiscal responsibility to our organization as we move through this critical time in our history. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through our Caucus email system.

I have been a member of the Veterans Caucus for the past nine years or so. I was originally tasked with assuming the control of the website for this organization. During this period of time I have been well educated into what it takes to keep an organization like this functioning. In my tenure as webmaster, you have seen almost instantaneous dissemination of information pertinent to the membership of this organization. The Caucus has also seen a significant financial savings from the reorganization of the website. For the past four years I have served you as the Secretary of the Caucus. A good portion of the Secretary duties are integral functions within the website. As Secretary of the Veterans Caucus of the AAPA, I will push our website/organization to the limits of current technology.

Directors-at-Large (2016-2018)

Rod Grogan

“I am seeking to be elected to the office of Director at Large of our Veterans Caucus that I have had a privilege of sitting the past 2 years. I have served on the scholarship committee for some years and am current the chair of that committee. There are to be changes in our caucus activity and look forward to being a help in some of that process. I hope to continue work on building funding for scholarships and or organization as a whole. I pledge that even if not elected, I will continue in all that our Caucus does and stands for, seeking the future with our PA veteran constituency. Thank you for your consideration.”

Rod Grogan

Mike Wolter

I am Michael Wolter, Maj., USAF (ret) and I am seeking your support and vote for a position on the Board of Directors of your Veterans Caucus.

I am a graduate of the USAF/University of Oklahoma PA program, University of Nebraska MPAS program and the Mayo Clinic post graduate surgical training program. I retired from the Air Force in 1991 and joined the staff of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic Rochester. I retired from Mayo Clinic four years ago but have continued to work part time.

I have been a lecturer for various programs within the Mayo Clinic School of Allied Health and also with its associated PA program at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Additionally, I have had the pleasure and honor of mentoring numerous PA students during their clinical rotations here at Mayo Clinic Rochester.

I have been actively involved on the Board of Directors of the Veterans Caucus, the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Academy of PAs, the Board of Directors and eventual president of PAOS, and Constituent Relations Committee of the AAPA.

There are many issues that affect our organization. The Veterans Caucus is well known for its outstanding scholarship program and it is imperative that we keep this a very strong program. Another issue is maintaining and growing our membership. Numbers are important but an active membership that participates in caucus programs is essential. Additionally, we need to continue to work hard on ensuring that Topics in the Tropics remains viable source of outstanding CME.

I want to thank you for your time and your support. Remember to vote and remain active in your Veterans Caucus.

Currently employed by Sabine County Hospital and Sabine Family Medical Center as a PA-C in Family Practice

I am interested in being on the Board of Director’s to help with our recruitment efforts. I feel we need to direct at least some of our efforts into recruiting younger members, possibly using some of the social networking web sites, such as Facebook. I actively recruit members any chance I have, and two of the PA’s I have approached attended the Topics in the Tropics conference this year and are now members of the Caucus.

Thomas Valley

Thomas H Valley Ph.d, PA

5 years Army

12 years Air Force

Served on Society of Air Force Physician Assistants for 9 years, including president. Very much enjoyed my military time and board interaction. Retired from Mayo Clinic last year which allows time for more involvement in other adventures. I look forward to our yearly meetings (getting together with other military members/PA's .) would be honored to be more involved in the caucus and supporting the continued scholarship efforts !